Weinzierl

Jewelers

Victoria’s Corner Bar.  Nightly Specials and Menus.  952-443-9944

Specialized assisted living for those

with memory challenges. 

Victoria.  952-908-2215

8 First Street in Waconia.  952-442-2885

942-443-2078

Funeral Home & Cremation Services

952-474-9595

Pediatric Rehabilitation Clinic.

Occupational Therapy.  Speech Therapy.

952-443-9888

Huber

City of Lakes & Parks  952-443-2363

“Trees Are Our Roots”

8099 Bavaria Rd * Victoria * 952-443-2990

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         And so we are already in August.  Summer is winding up, not down, and Victoria seems to be the place to be.  Activity abounds like never before, and yet there are wonderful quiet moments as well, especially in the early morning hours before the light of day.  Do you know that there is a TV channel that plays the National Anthem every morning at 5 a.m. with moving patriotic graphics on the screen?  It always makes me stop what I'm doing and pay attention.  Just like when the birds start singing at 5 in the morning.  They get my attention only if the windows are open.

         When the sun comes up, I look at my calendar and am pleased when the day is blank.  There is a lot of freedom in a blank page, but they don't happen so often.

         If Victoria isn't beckoning to me in some manner, other places are.  For example, we attended a Grand Opening of Folkestone, a Senior Living Community in  the Presbyterian Home Project in Wayzata, on July 24th.  Allan had worked with the principals for maybe five years before his retirement as City Manager, getting them to the shovel ready stage.

         It's quite a remarkable project, a huge project, attractive inside and outside, but initially rather confusing to somebody like me, a country girl who chose to live in a small town in a small neighborhood and do a small newspaper.

         As we strolled the corridors of the Folkestone in a self-guided tour, we came upon their own movie theater, restaurant, chapel, swimming pool, exercise room, patios,  courtyards, and other large spaces to just sit and enjoy.  Pretty amazing.  A brochure tells us there are apartments to accommodate independent senior living, assisted living, enhanced assisted living, memory care, and a care center.

         It would be nice if Presbyterian Homes would do a project in Victoria, maybe on the 13.5 city-owned acres next to downtown Victoria.  Such a project could accommodate not just residents of Victoria, but residents of the much larger community.  Allan tells me that Presbyterian Homes builds Fords and Chevrolets as well as Cadillacs.

         Victoria has some wonderful facilities already in Emerald Crest and the Victoria Care Center, but most of our seniors have to leave the community if they want to downsize from a home to an apartment.  And most of our seniors have to leave the community for special care.

         Flori Diethelm, Victoria's oldest citizen who will be 97 on November 11th, just moved to Auburn Manor in Chaska on July 9th.  (If you'd like to send him a card, his address is 501 North Oak Street, Chaska, MN 55318.)  I can name many more Victoria seniors who have moved from Victoria to other communities over the years.

         Chaska isn't very far away, of course, and neither are Waconia and Excelsior.  We are fortunate to have good neighbors.  But can you imagine the shot in the arm that our downtown Victoria businesses would get with a Presbyterian Homes project next door?  Such density would also help the City of Victoria meet density requirements of the Metropolitan Council.

         Now, where was I?  Oh, yes, being beckoned to events outside of Victoria.  On July 27th we attended a concert of the Chaska Community Choir in the spacious auditorium of the Chaska High School. The choir was under the direction of Caroline Swanson and Maria Vejdani.  Caroline is a cantor here at St. Victoria and her personal invitation led me to the concert.

         Theme of the concert was "Voices." It included pieces related to Voices of Faith, Voices of Love, Voices of Hope, and Voices of Unity.  The voices were beautiful and the entire performance was inspirational, professional, and enjoyable.

         When choir alumni in the audience were asked to join the choir on stage for a special rendition of "Minnesota Hail to Thee," Dave Kocka of Victoria and his daughter Patty Schlader, among several others, became part of the larger group.  My friend Julianne Wartman also sang with the Chaska Community Choir for a few years but she stayed sitting in the comfy concert seat next to me and Allan.

         And so we are already in August and there aren't too many blank pages on my calendar.  I'm looking forward to the Carver County Fair in Waconia, the Renaissance Festival in Shakopee, and the Stiftungsfest in Norwood Young America.

         But Victoria beckons me the most, of course.  It's our home.  Will I attend the St. Victoria Sunset Fest and the Mount Olivet Car Show?  Will I attend the Patio Party at the Hartman Garden Center and a couple Classic Car Nights?

         I will be attending the Victoria Volksfest on Friday and Saturday, August 15th and 16th.  Maybe I'll see you there.  Each year at the end of Volksfest we especially look forward to the fabulous fireworks over Stieger Lake in downtown Victoria.

         As I said, summer is winding up, not down, and Victoria is the place to be.

From the Editor

Dedicated to the sunshine of truth,

the moonshine of meeting deadlines,

and the starshine of Victoria.

The Victoria GAZETTE

August 2014